Viktor Klima (born 1947) who became Chancellor of Austria in 1997, promised to streamline his government and lead his nation in cooperation with a united Europe.

Viktor Klima came to head the executive branch of the Austrian government after a long period of apprenticeship in the business world and in several government ministries. He succeeded his mentor, Franz Vranitzky, who resigned after bitter wrangling in the Austrian parliament over privatization of government industries and banking. With the threatened demise of Vranitzsky's coalition government, Klima stepped in with promises to streamline government and heal the wounds of the past.

Klima faced many challenges in Austria, known since the end of World War II for its strict neutralist policies. With pressures from both the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as domestic social and political problems, Klima tread carefully in order to protect his country's interests...